Data from: Delimiting shades of gray: phylogeography of the Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is a common tube-nosed seabird with a disjunct Holarctic range. Taxonomic divisions within the Northern Fulmar have historically been muddled by geographical variation notably including highly polymorphic plumage. Recent molecular analyses (i.e., DNA barcoding) have suggested that genetic divergence between Atlantic and Pacific populations could be on par with those typically observed between species. We employ a multigene phylogenetic analysis to better explore the level of genetic divergence between these populations and to test an old hypothesis on the origin of the modern distribution of color morphs across their range. Additionally, we test whether mutations in the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (MC1R) are associated with dark plumage in the Northern Fulmar. We confirmed that mitochondrial lineages in the Atlantic and Pacific populations are highly divergent, but nuclear markers revealed incomplete lineage sorting. Genetic divergence between these populations is consistent with that observed between many species of Procellariiformes and we recommend elevating these two forms to separate species. We also find that MC1R variation is not associated with color morph but rather is better explained by geographical divergence.北管鼻鹱（Northern Fulmar，Fulmarus glacialis）是一类常见的管鼻海鸟，其分布呈间断的全北界格局。历史上，北管鼻鹱内部的分类学划分因地理变异（尤其涉及高度多态的羽色）而长期处于混乱状态。近期的分子分析（即DNA条形码（DNA barcoding））研究表明，大西洋与太平洋种群间的遗传分化程度可达到多数物种种间的分化水平。本研究采用多基因系统发育分析，以更深入地探究这两个种群间的遗传分化水平，并检验一个长期存在的、关于其分布范围内色型现代分布起源的假说。此外，本研究还检验了黑皮质素-1受体基因（MC1R）的突变是否与北管鼻鹱的深色羽型相关。本研究证实，大西洋与太平洋种群的线粒体谱系分化程度极高，但核标记结果显示存在不完全谱系分选现象。这两个种群间的遗传分化程度与多数鹱形目（Procellariiformes）物种种间的分化水平相符，因此我们建议将这两个类群提升为独立物种。同时，本研究发现黑皮质素-1受体基因的变异与羽色型并无关联，其变异更能通过地理分化来解释。